Alvis House Alvis House Urban Youth Works ProgramUrban Youth Works Program

OJACC ConferenceSeptember 30, 2010

Lois Hochstetler Alvis House

Vice President Agency Programs

Reentry Services at Alvis HouseReentry Services at Alvis House

“Not just halfway houses, not just in Columbus, & not just for adults”

Administrative & non-residential offices in Columbus

Over 400 halfway house & work release beds in Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, & Chillicothe

Community Reentry Center in LimaOver 4000 individuals served in 2009

Non-Residential Services at Alvis HouseNon-Residential Services at Alvis House

Youth Employment & Life Skills, Substance Abuse Education Programs

Family Reentry Programs Employment & Case Management

Services GED Program Videoconference Pre-Release Education Case Management Jail Services Reentry Court in Northwest Ohio

Youth Programs at Alvis HouseYouth Programs at Alvis House

More than a decade of experience providing services to youth on probation or parole, or incarcerated

Services include reentry programs, employment & life skills programs, substance abuse education services, electronic monitoring, halfway house programming, mentoring services

Young Adult Reentry Program/ Young Adult Reentry Program/ Urban Youth Works ProgramUrban Youth Works Program

Young Adult Reentry Program (YARP) 2006-2009

Urban Youth Works (UYW) 2009-Present Core components of programs the same Now primarily serving youth on parole

rather than incarcerated youth Added paid internships/work experience,

stipends for attending training

Who are we serving in this program?Who are we serving in this program?

Incarcerated Youth within 90 days of release or Youth on Parole

Ages of 16 & 21 Moderate to High Risk Offenders Special Need Offenders Youth with Poor Educational

Histories Youth with Many, Complex Needs

Intake/Assessment Intake/Assessment

Just prior to/following release Assessment of reentry &

employment interests & needsIntensive case management &

supportive services to address reentry needs

Establishing relationships with youth & family

Phase One: Job Readiness TrainingPhase One: Job Readiness Training

Combination of classroom education & community employment support

Back on Track curriculum: job readiness training & life skills

45 hours over three weeksCareer development plan completed

Phase Two: Developing work habits Phase Two: Developing work habits & career development& career developmentIntensive case management &

supportive services continueEducation- GED, HS registration,

higher education Job search assistanceWork experience/paid internshipManaging reentry needs

Phase Three: Career Advancement Phase Three: Career Advancement

Intensive case management & supportive services continue as needed

On-going or new educational experience Apprenticeship/career training Additional internship/on-the-job training

opportunities Job retention support Referrals to local WIA Board

What are some of the challenges What are some of the challenges of the youth we serve?of the youth we serve?Lack of education, high school diploma or GED

Normal brain development delays

Multi-generational criminal patterns

Substance Abuse/

Mental Health Issues

Lack of basic life skills including social skills & communication

Gang involvement

Under exposed to possibilities

Early & frequent exposure to violence

Over exposed to failure in the community

How do we address all these How do we address all these challenges?challenges? Strengths-based focus Intensive case management to address

underlying needs Normalizing age-appropriate adolescent

behavior Developing relationships with youth &

families based on trust Developing individualized plans &

strategies

How do we address all these How do we address all these challenges? (Continued)challenges? (Continued) Seeking out & using real life teachable

moments Appropriate discussion of thinking errors Emphasis on teaching, not punishing Patience in repeating instructions &

guidance “Less about the results than about seeing

that they hear it.”

We couldn’t do it without collaboration…We couldn’t do it without collaboration…

COWICWIA Board

PAROLE

Alvis

House

WIA Board

Worksites &training pgms

Success by the numbers*…Success by the numbers*…

1. 344 youth served2. 38 youth have earned their high school

diplomas3. 126 youth have earned their GEDs4. 39 youth have pursued post high school/

professional certification training/licenses5. 12 youth have participated in paid internships/

work experience6. Recidivism rate of 14% compared to 35% youth

on parole (2006-2009)

*Statistics 2006-present except #6 as stated

Success by the individuals…Success by the individuals…

Follow-up:Follow-up:

lois.hochstetler@alvishouse.org

(614)252-8417, ext. 19 (until early Nov.)

(614)252-8402 (after early Nov.)